REDESIGN – IMPLEMENTING OUR NEW REGIONAL & EQUALITY STRUCTURES

Further to LTB 635/18, the main purpose of this LTB is to expand on the work we are doing, in accordance with the decisions of the Redesign Conference, to take forward our new regional and equality structures.

As part of this and as stated in LTB 635/18, the Redesign Team continues its work in identifying and preparing the necessary Rule Changes that flow from the Policies agreed at the Special Conference.

In this regard, Branches will be aware that this work must be completed within the normal timeline for publishing to Branches the rule changes to be presented to the Rules Revision Session of General Conference 2019. Therefore, we can confirm that we are currently working to a deadline for Rule Changes to be published to Branches by 5thFebruary 2019. 

To meet both this timeline and to take the actions needed to implement agreed policy not requiring a rule change, Branches will understand that between now and the 5thFebruary 2019 there is a substantial amount of work to be done. The element of this that relates directly to the implementation of our new Regional and Equality structures is being advanced as follows:

New Regional Structures

The CWU has agreed to implement a reinvigorated, much changed and more focused Regional Structure. The positive changes agreed at Conference are central to delivering the Union’s agenda of reasserting Trade Union values across society and working for major political change. Within the new Regional Structure there are a significant number of new positions and the Redesign Team are currently looking at the process for introducing these. We will also be working with our Regional Secretaries to develop implementation plans for each region, which will be consistent with an overall national approach.

New Equality Structures

The clear decisions taken in Bournemouth enable us to make positive changes that bring all our equality work into mainstream union structures, whilst also developing new equality strand networks at regional level that will be far more accessible to Branches, Representatives and members.

Crucial to this – for the first time – is having the joined up approach agreed by Conference that will connect all equality work via a restructured HQ department, the NEC, new Conference arrangements, Regions and their new strand networks. To facilitate the transition from our previous structures to the new structures, we can confirm the following:

From Tuesday 20th November, Trish Lavelle will take on responsibility to lead the Equality Department through transition and the merger with our Training, Education & Learning Department. Trish will continue in this role until General Conference 2019, at which point the situation will be reviewed. We will also be putting in place additional support and utilising, where appropriate, our NEC Equality strand members to ensure a smooth transition.

Additionally, on 26th November 2018, we have arranged a meeting of all the existing Advisory Committee members to discuss all the issues associated with the implementation of our new structures. In the meantime, we can advise that we are planning on the basis of the existing equality strand conferences still taking place in the New Year and the dates for these will be published soon.

Further information on the general implementation of all policies agreed at the Special Redesign Conference will be published as our work progresses.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward Tony Kearns

General Secretary Senior Deputy General Secretary

18LTB648 – REDESIGN – IMPLEMENTING OUR NEW REGIONAL AND EQUALITY STRUCTURES

BREXIT

All Branches and Representatives will have seen the important developments overnight on the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

We want to assure you that provision will be made for the NEC to have a comprehensive discussion on the overall situation when it meets on Thursday 29^th November.

However, the situation is fluid and as well as the need to assess the content of the agreement and its potential implications on our members and the industries they work in, we will also be monitoring very closely the various political scenarios that may emerge in the coming days and weeks. These include the Tory Party no confidence vote in the Prime Minister and the debate and vote that will take place in Parliament on the proposed deal.

In the meantime, the union will continue to be active online in support of our policy to call for a General Election.

Further information will be sent out in due course.

If you have any further enquiries regarding this LTB, please contactgsoffice@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary 

18LTB647 – BREXIT   

HSE(NI) – Annual Report 2017-2018

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland HSE(NI) has published its 2017-2018 Annual Report.

The Annual Report shows a decrease in the number of workplace fatalities but a significant increase in workplace injuries, with major injuries up by 27% on last year and all reportable injuries up by 13%.

In 2017-18 workplace fatalities were down by 5 (31%) to 11 compared to 16 in the previous year. Farm-related fatalities increased by one with seven deaths and construction fatalities remained unchanged with three fatalities in 2017-18 as in the previous year.

The HSE(NI) stated that whilst it is encouraging that workplace deaths are down slightly, it’s disappointing that serious workplace injuries are significantly up by a staggering 27%. The enforcing authority added that no matter what sector people work in, everyone has the right to come home safe and well after a day’s work but the statistics clearly show some parts of some industries need to do more. While HSE(NI) is keen to advise companies on how to meet their legal requirements, they said they will not hesitate to take enforcement action and prosecute where there is a clear danger to the health and safety of Northern Ireland’s workforce.

HSE(NI’s) new Corporate Plan 2018-2023 (See LTB 645/18)  focuses, not only on the causes of fatal accidents, but also on those activities and work areas where the most serious injuries and cases of ill health are known to occur. Over the coming years, these are areas which HSE(NI) aims to collaborate with partners and industry sectors including Safety Reps to drive the numbers down.

HSE(NI) has a major challenge with the Northern Ireland Farming Industry which still has a poor safety record, with seven deaths compared to six the previous year. Any one of the four main causes – Slurry, Animals, Falls and Equipment – can cause a serious injury or farm death. Sadly in 2017/18 there are still too many accidents of all types on farms. HSE(NI) and its partners in the Farm Safety Partnership will continue efforts to provide information, advice and support, but HSE(NI) states that it’s vital that farmers play their part as well by making safety a priority on their own farms. Many of the risks encountered can be minimised by taking a moment to stop and think about safety and taking simple measures to keep themselves and others on the farm safe – failing to do so ultimately results in tragedy.

The Annual Report highlights the work HSE(NI) undertakes ranging from partnering with organisations to providing advice and raising health and safety awareness to its enforcement and inspection role.

During 2017-18 HSE(NI), in conjunction with local councils, raised the issue of ‘slips and trips’. HSE(NI) reports that they also carried out 6,233 safety inspections and served 216 formal enforcement notices (Prohibition and Improvement Notices) where poor health and safety practice was found.

Key Facts and Figures for 2017-18

In areas where HSE(NI) has enforcement responsibilities, key trends in work-related injuries are as follows:

• fatalities down 31% to 11, compared to 16 in the previous year;
• fatalities in the agriculture sector increased by 1 from the previous year with 7 in this sector;
• major injuries up 27% on last year; and 
• all reportable injuries up by 13% on last year to 1,898.

During the year, HSE(NI):

• continued its Farm Safety Partnership work through the second Farm Safety Action Plan and the launch of the FSP Affiliate Scheme;
• reached over 13,400 children in 104 rural primary schools with its “Be Aware Kids” farm safety messages;
• involved 3,300 pupils from 74 primary schools in its Child Safety on Farms Poster competition and distributed 41,500 copies of the calendar produced from the winning entries;
• delivered, in conjunction with local councils, a health and safety initiative to raise awareness of slips and trips;
• completed seven successful prosecutions, which saw fines totaling £173,750;
• achieved UKAS Accreditation for its Scientific Services Unit;
• delivered 6,233 inspections and served 216 formal enforcement notices;
• dealt with over 1,898 reportable work-related injuries and 869 complaints about alleged unsatisfactory working conditions and activities;
• prepared three sets of regulations, initiated consultations on four regulations and published two revised Approved Codes of Practice;
• submitted an Annual Equality Report to the Equality Commission;
• organised six key events which attracted over 1,000 participants;
• held or attended 122 promotional events including seminars, lectures, workshops and presentations;
• distributed over 52,800 free publications giving health and safety advice;
• dealt with 3,979 calls for information via its Freephone Helpline; and
• enabled website visitors to download 102,943 publication files.

There are 124,000 businesses in Northern Ireland and the public sector.

A copy of the HSE(NI) Annual Report 2017/18 is attached.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB649 HSE(NI) – Annual Report 2017-2018

HSE(NI)-annual-report-and-statement-of-accounts-2017-18

British Safety Council Issues Warning To Government and Employers on Protecting Workers Mental Health

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

The British Safety Council has warned the government and the business community that there are not enough provisions to keep people who experience mental ill-health in employment and has called on employers to commit themselves to protecting their workers’ mental wellbeing and investing in line managers’ mental health training. The BSC stated that the current government investment programmes and the education and training delivered by the leading mental health charities in Britain will help many people who experience mental ill-health to return and to stay in employment.

NHS England statistics state that only 43 percent of people with mental health issues are in regular employment, compared with 74 percent of the general population. Furthermore ‘MIND’, the Mental Health charity states that 80 days is the average length of time which young people have to wait to start treatment in mental health services. For someone who could be contemplating suicide, 80 days is a very long time.

‘MIND’ states that employers and their managers have a crucial role to play in helping people to open up about their condition and advising them on where to seek further help. It’s an employer’s responsibility to train them for this task. Staff with mental health conditions who felt supported by their line managers were 11 times more likely to disclose a mental health problem, in comparison to those who did not (MIND).

The British Safety Council has launched a range of online wellbeing resources including new training courses which aim to get employees thinking about mental health and talking about it, including ‘training for line managers’, which helps them learn how to potentially save someone’s life if they spot any danger signs and so far have delivered 100 of the training courses.

The British Safety Council has also produced a free, short, learning video to give people a better understanding of different mental health and wellbeing issues. You can see the video at: BritSafe Mental Health Awareness Video: https://youtu.be/a6ppbe_wYA0

Another short Video of interest to Reps is available in which Nat Miles from ‘MIND’ and Nicola Oliver from the ‘Centre for Mental Health’ talk about symptoms of mental health problems and how employers can build mentally healthy workplaces. The video is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR8sUNjHHHM

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

18LTB646 British Safety Council Issues Warning To Government and Employers on Protecting Workers Mental Health

BREXIT

All Branches and Representatives will have seen the important developments overnight on the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

We want to assure you that provision will be made for the NEC to have a comprehensive discussion on the overall situation when it meets on Thursday 29^th November.

However, the situation is fluid and as well as the need to assess the content of the agreement and its potential implications on our members and the industries they work in, we will also be monitoring very closely the various political scenarios that may emerge in the coming days and weeks. These include the Tory Party no confidence vote in the Prime Minister and the debate and vote that will take place in Parliament on the proposed deal.

In the meantime, the union will continue to be active online in support of our policy to call for a General Election.

Further information will be sent out in due course.

If you have any further enquiries regarding this LTB, please contactgsoffice@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward

General Secretary 

18LTB647 – BREXIT